Scene #2024:

Owner	Pose
Landon al Cid	It's been a long time since Landon and Cirra had any real time together. School, royal and Judge duties, exploration into the vast unknown, the looming possibility of war...it's made it sort of hard to find time for Landon to find free time. But, finally, there's been a lull - a lull in which there's no homework, no classwork, and a middling feeling on the grand looming war. And so Landon has taken full advantage of that by abducting - or inviting, depending on how you describe it - his bodyguard to Leviathan for a romantic beachside evening. Well, not evening, yes. Phoenix is still high in the sky over the plate, casting its radiance down across the clear water. White, fluffy clouds drift lazily over the plate like the great Divine. There's a profound sense of silence and aloneness on the beach, with only the beating of the waves, the pounding surf's ever-present melody, to keep them company. Landon brought a picnic basket. He brought a blanket. He brought an umbrella. He brought himself in a swimsuit. He brought a surprise for Cirra. And... Perhaps more importantly, he left his phone behind. Cirra has his complete attention, except for the emergency line he carries.
Cirra Constantine	Cirra Constantine brought herself in a swimsuit, that one she 'confescated' from the Prinnies. She's sat down on the blanket under the umbrella with the picnic basket. She's never without a method of being contacted, but her phone is set aside, theres no where it'll fit in that suit anyways. Well maybe one. "So," She looks up at LAndon, "Is there an occasion or did you just decide now was a good time to see me in hardly anything?"
Landon al Cid	"A little of A, a little of B," Landon confirms after a moment, "But mostly I just wanted to spend some time with you. We haven't really...I mean, yes, we've spent plenty of time together, but...as the Prince and his bodyguard, and not..." "And not Landon and Cirra," he finishes, a bit lamely, "And that's something that I wanted to remedy, while we had the chance." He gets quiet. "And...with Kyra being injured, and Dominic's situation, I thought about the people I care about, and..." Landon lowers his head. "...and...what happened in Lady Rondel's world..."
Cirra Constantine	Cirra chuckles a little and scoots closer to Landon, "Thats sweet of you." she pauses afterwards and looks out over the sea. "That wasn't your fault Landon." she puts a hand on his shoulder. "Souji Murasame took the situation and bent it to his benefit, and aagainst you." "We complain about the Union applying their standards to our world, but at the same time we can't be applying ours to theirs, not if we don't want to come off as turning our nose up at them hypocritically."
Landon al Cid	Landon's hand settles into Cirra's. "It doesn't matter if it was my fault or not. I did what I had to do. I am a Judge, I am a Prince...it won't be the last time I have t make a hard call, Cirra. You, and Father, and everyone else, can't keep making those calls for me. I'm...one day, I'm going to have to kill a man. And I may make the wrong call." Landon's hand squeezes tight around hers. "And knowing that...that I am capable of it, that I would have brought that blade down if I hadn't been stopped...Cirra, it's worse than if I had. It's worse than if I had taken his life. It's..." "..." "...I can see the madness in his eyes, and hear his chanting, and I know it was the choice my father would have made, and..." "...and that doesn't make it any better."
Cirra Constantine	"Landon, it is not your job, or your father's to punish every wicked man in the uiverse." Cirra takes his hand in hers and holds it. "If it were you'd be faced with an impossible task." "Let Sanary Rondel's justice system work." she gives Landon's hand a squeeze.
Landon al Cid	"I made the decision that I thought father would've made," Landon murmurs, "It isn't anything else that's bothering me. It's that. I thought...I thought it would be what he would do." He leans his head against her shoulder. "...I'm sorry. I'm ruining this, aren't I? I even made lunch myself so you'd be happy." Landon offers her a wan smile.
Cirra Constantine	Cirra lifts her other hand up to pat Landon's head against her shoulder. "Have you asked him about it?" she looks uver at the picnic basket. "You packed lunch? And you expect me not to worry?" She says it teasingly.
Landon al Cid	"...no," Landon admits after a moment, "I...haven't had time. He's had bigger things to worry about than my self-doubts. Especially with Kyra's...with what happened to Kyra, Cirra. That's caused problems in the court that I don't wish her to know about, problems that I won't burden her with - but people are worried that it won't end with her. People are worried that the Academy will be under fire as a whole, and..." Landon sighs, his head sinking into his free hand. At her joke, he laughs. "I did a good job. I...put my feelings into it, in any case. I wanted to make something for you, and..." "Well, the white magic covers the cuts well enough." Landon sighs.
Cirra Constantine	Cirra turns her head towards Landon's pressing her nose into his hair. "I'm sure it'll be great." she chuckles "Come on then. Show me what you made."
Landon al Cid	Landon smiles. It's the first honest smile he's had in a long while. He opens the basket and starts pulling out some simple, honest food - nothing gourmet, nothing high-quality, nothing amazing. Despite the pantry of the palace and all the things he could've used, it looks like Landon went to the grocery store himself, found common foods, and went through the full effort of preparing it like a normal person. It doesn't look great. Compared to the refined foods they're used to eating, the cut sandwiches of smoked meat, the fruits, and the salad just don't...stack up. It probably won't even be very good by anyone's standards. But Landon is clearly smiling. "Here. I...think I did alright. I've been watching in the kitchen as of late, trying to...well, you know. I learn faster than other people."
Cirra Constantine	Cirra chuckles again as Landon unpacks the lunch, it's nothing special,but Landon did it himself. "I'm impressed that you tried so hard. Prince Landon the man born with everything, refuses it and makes me a home made picnic." She picks up a sandwhich and bites into it, looking over the edge at Landon as she slowly pulls a mouthfull off.
Landon al Cid	It's not great. Landon's not a great cook. He's not going to be renowned as the Cooking King, that's for sure. It's not bad. It's not inedible! It's...mediocre. Passable. It's food, and it's edible, and it's not horrible. That's probably as much as Cirra could've hoped for. "Well, I...yes. I wanted to..." Landon heaves a sigh. "We've been through a lot together, Cirra. And you mean a lot to me. And I thought it would be nice if we...had a nice time on the beach, as far away from other people, where I could be candid and talk with you and..." "...and we don't have to pretend to be anybody we aren't." "...and I thought it might help me get my mind off it, if I...had something to do, and it seemed as good a project as anything else..."
Cirra Constantine	Cirra sets her half of the sandwhich back down and looks at Landon, "Landon al Cid." "The more you talk about why you should enjoy something, th eless time you spend enjoying it."
Landon al Cid	"You have a very sharp tongue in your head," Landon decides, staring at Cirra, "It's most improper for a bodyguard. You should be submissive and eager to serve." "...but that isn't what I'd want in a queen," He adds wryly, "And then you wouldn't be you, and that would be a terrible thing." Landon sighs and leans back against the sand. "...have you, um...Cirra, I haven't asked, but...have you...had to kill anyone, yet? When I wasn't present? Have you...have you had to..." "...have you had to?"
Cirra Constantine	And Landon goes right back to being moody... "Nearly." she admits, "It wasn't anything special. It was just combat." She lays down next to Landon and looks at the sky. "He attacked me, so I responded. He was trying to kill me, and you know the first rule of combat."
Landon al Cid	"But you didn't?" Landon pushes, turning over and leaning on his elbow to look at her. "You nearly did, but you didn't kill him?"
Cirra Constantine	"I didn't say what condition he was left in." Cirra looks up at Landon. "He may actually wish that I had killed him."
Landon al Cid	"..." "You know," Landon observes slowly, "Despite the fact that I can see almost everything from this vantage point, I'm a little bit terrified of you, Cirra."
Cirra Constantine	Cirra reaches up and touches Landon's chin, "And yet, it seems as if you /like/ it that way. So which of us is stranger?"
Landon al Cid	"The correct answer is me," Landon offers with a smile, "But I stil have some compulsion to say you." It's hard to stay morose on a day like this. It's just...perfect. The sky, Phoenix, the clouds, the water, Cirra...Landon is visibly, if gradually, lightening up. A few more moments, and he hooks his arm around Cirra's waist and lays next to her on the towel. "...thank you. I don't...say it often enough, Cirra. But thank you."
Cirra Constantine	Cirra gives one of her rare smiles and touches Landon's cheek. She lays there, letting Landon lay down next to her and puts her hand on his arm. "I should be thanking you. Ever since I was little, your father gave me a home, but you're the one that made me feel like I belong there."
Landon al Cid	Landon appreciates that smile. That smile brightens his own, and in moments, the traces of morose and mopey Landon are just gone. After all, some things, you have to appreciate while they're there. He really wishes he had his phone on him right now. To take a picture of her smiling, obviously! "...I like having you around," Landon replies awkwardly, "You keep me honest. And...you've saved my life on more than one occasion, and you take care of me. Sometimes overmuch. But..." "But it's always appreciated." He tightens his hug a little. "And even in a house full of family, and a close family, I've always...you're..." He falls quiet. Then he straightens, pushing up a bit, and moving so his arms are on either side of her and he's looking down at her. His eyes are locked firmly on hers. "...my only fear," Landon manages finally, "Is that you'll die. Sometimes I have nightmares about it. About outliving you because you took a bullet or a sword to protect me. And I..." "...Cirra, I'm scared that that'll happen, and it's made you all the more precious to me. The time we have is so...delicate." He's not being mopey, at least. His smile is still firmly on his face, even if his eyes are a bit sad.
Cirra Constantine	Looking up at Landon as he moves over her, Cirra tilts her head slightly. "It is precious." she agrees, "Because I don't want to lose you, thats why I work so hard to make sure you're always safe. Because if I lost /you/..." she closes her eyes for a moment. "My entire world would crumble. Because you're such a big part of it."
Landon al Cid	"It's funny. That neither of us wants to lose each other, and that's what puts us at such risk of doing so." He just sort of sits there for a moment, looking down at her. "...Cirra?"
Cirra Constantine	Cirra opens her eyes and looks back up at Landon, "Yes?"
Landon al Cid	"Last time I wanted to kiss you, it led to an argument. Is it going to lead to an argument this time?" The smile meets his eyes, and his lips twist into a wry grin. "Because this seems like an appropriate moment, and I wanted to make sure that it doesn't turn into another fight." "You usually win, and that's really very unfair for me."
Cirra Constantine	Cirra smiles, it's a sly smile as she looks up at Landon, "/Not/ kissing me right could also result in an argument you know." She lifts her hand again to Landon's chin, "I guess, you'll just have to find out."
Landon al Cid	Landon hooks his arms around her neck and kisses her. It's a deep kiss. It's a Romance Movie kiss. It's a Life-Changing Romance Movie kiss. It's a good kiss.